October means many things for different people – it’s finally starting to feel like fall and we’re starting to think about our Halloween costumes and wearing pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

Domestic violence is defined as violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner. 

For some, it may be hard to imagine a student being domestically abused in college because many college students don’t live in a family setting while on campus. But, you don’t have to be living in a family situation or even living with your significant other in order to be a victim of domestic violence. 

For many, beliefs on domestic violence are based off the stereotypes that we’ve learned from the media. But domestic abuse isn’t always the stereotypical drunken husband beating his wife or vice versa. Domestic abuse can and does happen in college. 

The National Domestic Violence Hotline reports that women ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 experience the highest rates of domestic/intimate partner violence. At Iowa State, 66 percent of students are between the ages of 18 and 22, which is just a sample of those age groups. 

Awareness is a main issue concerning domestic violence. Not awareness in the sense that people know what constitutes domestic violence, but awareness of the fact that it’s not just happening to “other people.” It could be happening to your friend, neighbor, classmate, etc. 

Victims of domestic violence often won’t report their abuse for many reasons and may not even realize what is happening to them constitutes abuse. So, this month, and every month, it’s important for us to become more aware of what is happening not only in our own relationships, but also to be aware that this could be happening around us. 

If you are the victim of a domestically violent relationship, you can consult with counselors at Student Counseling Services or call the Iowa Domestic Violence Helpline at: 1-800-770-1650